Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO BUSINESS COMPETITIVENESS.

Establishes a goal for the State to achieve a ranking among the top 10 states in the nation for business competitiveness by 2045. Defines and requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to select a "ranking metric" and establishes interim goals. Requires DBEDT to establish a working group to develop and recommend policies that improve Hawaii's business competitiveness. Requires annual reports to Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE.

Establishes an independent Office of the Child Advocate within the Office of the Ombudsman to oversee and evaluate the delivery of services to children and their families by various state agencies and entities, receive and investigate complaints, and make recommendations for improvement. Requires annual reports to the Governor, Legislature, and public. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO ENABLE LEGISLATION BY THE PEOPLE.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to provide for initiative and referendum.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO ENABLING LEGISLATION BY THE PEOPLE.

Provides for initiative and referendum procedures. Takes effect upon ratification of a constitutional amendment enabling legislation by the people.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO 911 SERVICES.

Requires the 911 Board to establish, implement, and maintain a statewide emergency safety profile system that allows residents to voluntarily create and manage secure personal profiles containing information relevant to emergency responses.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO DEMENTIA.

Establishes the Hanai Memory Network Program within the Executive Office on Aging to create a network of dementia care specialists and support systems to assist individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Appropriates funds.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Includes housing projects for individuals with disabilities and individuals with access and functional needs as eligible projects to apply for expedited permits. Effective 7/2/2026. Repeals on 6/30/2031.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Requires that employers pay all workers' compensation claims for compensable injuries and not deny claims without reasonable cause or during a pending investigation. Creates a presumption of compensability for claims submitted by employees excluded from coverage under the Hawaii prepaid health care act. Requires that employers notify medical services providers of any billing disagreements and allows providers to charge an additional rate to employers for outstanding balances owed for undisputed charges. Establishes dispute resolution procedures for employers and providers who have a reasonable disagreement over charges. Requires employers to deny a treatment plan within 3 days of receipt of a treatment plan or the treatment plan is deemed accepted.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.

Repeals statutory language that currently authorizes the Department of Law Enforcement to: (1) inspect a qualifying medical cannabis patient's medical records held by the health provider who issued a written certification for the qualifying patient; and (2) suspend or revoke a health provider's ability to issue written certification for medical cannabis if the provider refuses the foregoing inspection, or if the medical records do not comply with the medical use of cannabis law.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a Medicaid buy-in program for workers with disabilities. Requires the Department to adopt rules.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO SURGICAL ASSISTANTS.

Requires the Hawaii Medical Board to require each person practicing medicine or podiatric medicine as a surgical assistant in the State to be licensed as a surgical assistant. Establishes exceptions. Requires the Hawaii Medical Board by rule to establish the application procedure, medical educational and training standards, examination requirements, if any, for surgical assistant licensure and degrees of supervision for surgical assistants. Establishes the Surgical Assistant Advisory Committee. Expands the services eligible for Medicaid Prospective Payment System reimbursement to include certain services furnished by a federally qualified health center or rural health clinic and provided by surgical assistants.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO HOSPITAL PRICE TRANSPARENCY.

Requires each hospital licensed in the State to provide an annual attestation to the State Health Planning and Development Agency that the hospital is in compliance with federal hospital price transparency requirements. Permits patients to file a counterclaim against debt collection actions filed by hospitals to determine if the hospital is in compliance with federal hospital price transparency requirements. Requires hospitals to provide patients with an easy-to-understand itemized bill statement before initiating a debt collection action against a patient. Effective 1/30/2050. (HD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO LIGHT POLLUTION.

Requires all outdoor light fixtures to be fully shielded. Creates exemptions for certain outdoor lighting. Repeals the Night Sky Protection Strategy. Appropriates funds.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

By 1/1/2027, requires all law enforcement agencies in the State to maintain a policy on the visible identification of law enforcement officers. Requires law enforcement agencies to maintain confidential, accurate records documenting each officer's adherence to the agency's visible identification policy. Prohibits state and county law enforcement agencies from assisting any law enforcement operation conducted by a federal law enforcement agency that fails or refuses to maintain a policy on the visible identification of law enforcement officers that meets the standards of state law. By 1/1/2027, requires state and county law enforcement agencies to maintain a policy on the minimum requirements to cooperate with a federal law enforcement agency enforcing federal immigration laws in the State.

Herbert M. "Tim" Richards IIIDemocrat

RELATING TO DEPOSITS OF PUBLIC FUNDS.

Requires the Director of Finance to consider, before the selection of a depository for the state treasury, the beneficial effects to the State of using depositories within the State, including but not limited to lending at favorable terms for the creation of certain affordable housing units. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Increases required public school instructional hours beginning in the 2027-2028 school year.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL LEASEHOLDS.

Exempts state and county lands leased after July 1, 2026, for an initial period of not less than 99 years from chapters 516 and 516D, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Establishes as a deceptive trade practice the advertising, displaying, or offering of a price for goods or services that does not include all mandatory fees or charges, with certain exceptions.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENT ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH SERVICES.

Requires the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health, to develop and distribute to each public middle and high school in the State guidelines for the establishment and operation of safe spaces for students to access telehealth services on school property during normal school hours. Requires each public middle and high school to establish and maintain a safe space for students according to the guidelines.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION.

Requires the Land Use Commission to reclassify lands that are designated for urban growth under a county general plan or county development plan as being in the urban district at the request of the county.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO BLUE CARBON.

Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to establish a Statewide Blue Carbon Strategy. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM.

Renames the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism as the Department of Housing, Economic Development, and Tourism. Effective 7/1/2060. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO A DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING.

Establishes the Department of Housing. Places the Hawaii Community Development Authority, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, and Hawaii Public Housing Authority within the Department of Housing for administrative purposes. Replaces the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism with the Director of Housing on the Hawaii Community Development Authority. Effective 7/1/2050.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Repeals requirement that the Chairperson of Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation Board of Directors be a public member. Repeals the prohibition on certain members of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation Board of Directors from serving as Chairperson. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO INCLUSIONARY ZONING.

Prohibits any law, ordinance, or rule from imposing an inclusionary zoning requirement on housing offered exclusively for sale or rent in perpetuity to buyers or renters who are residents of the State, are owner-occupants or renters, and do not own any other real property. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO LIMITED-PROFIT HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS.

Establishes an organizational, tax, and regulatory framework for limited-profit housing associations. Establishes the Limited-Profit Housing Council within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to oversee limited-profit housing associations. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Authorizes a county to reduce the aggregate zoned residential capacity within the county only if the county offsets that reduction by increasing zoned residential capacity elsewhere in the county, such that there is no net loss in residential capacity in the county. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO DEPOSITS OF PUBLIC FUNDS.

Requires the Director of Finance to consider, before the selection of a depository for the state treasury, the beneficial effects to the State of using depositories within the State, including but not limited to lending at favorable terms for the creation of certain affordable housing units. Effective 7/1/2050.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires applicants for rental housing revolving fund moneys to be either organizations that are required to use all financial surplus, excluding fees, to develop additional housing in the State, or government agencies. Effective 7/1/2050.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Adds the Executive Director of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY.

Adds the Executive Director of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATED TO HOUSING.

Replaces the five-year period during which the sales price of a rent-to-own dwelling unit shall remain fixed with an option period established by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Effective 7/1/2050.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to study the establishment of a Hawaii Workforce Excellence Award Program. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE POMAIKAI HAWAII FUND.

Establishes the Pomaikai Hawaii Fund, a state-owned sovereign wealth fund, into which certain portions of the transient accommodations tax revenues, moneys from general fund balance surpluses, moneys from civil action settlements where the State is a party, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale or other disposition of public lands shall be deposited. Establishes a Board of Directors to manage and invest the moneys in the Fund and distribute the earnings to qualified residents of the State beginning calendar year 2030. Requires the Board to adopt rules. Requires the Director of Finance to provide guidance to the Board on the establishment and administration of the Fund. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO TOURISM.

Requires the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to establish a Hawaii Urban Planning Museum. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes the Hawaii State Fellows Program within the Department of Human Resources Development to match talented applicants with full-time, paid fellowship roles in various state agencies for a period of 10 to 11 months. Establishes minimum qualifications and procedures for eligible applicants to apply to the program. Gives preference to eligible program applicants who have a pre-existing connection to the State or a demonstrated commitment to long-term leadership in the State. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to coordinate with state agencies to implement and promote the program. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates moneys.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a School Bus Driver Recruitment Grant Program. Establishes a School Bus Driver Recruitment Special Fund. Establishes a Repayment Signing Bonus Program. Establishes a School Bus Driver Outreach and Pathway Program. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Establishes the offense of use of a mask or facial covering by a law enforcement officer. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Beginning 1/1/2027, repeals the fourteen years and under age limit for health insurance coverage requirements for the diagnosis and treatment of autism. Repeals the maximum coverage benefit limit of $25,000 for applied behavioral analysis services.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO PLASTIC POLLUTION.

Prohibits the sale of any beverage contained in single-use plastic beverage containers where the plastic beverage cap is not tethered to the single-use plastic beverage container when the plastic beverage cap is removed. Requires plastic beverage caps tethered or otherwise attached to the single-use plastic beverage containers to be the same plastic resin.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENT ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH SERVICES.

Requires the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health, to develop and distribute to each public middle and high school in the State guidelines for the establishment and operation of safe spaces for students to access telehealth services on school property during normal school hours. Requires each public middle and high school to establish and maintain a safe space for students according to the guidelines.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO BLUE CARBON.

Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to establish a Statewide Blue Carbon Strategy. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS.

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish or select and contract with a third-party administrator to serve as the State Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) who shall be responsible for administering all pharmacy benefits for medicaid beneficiaries enrolled with medicaid managed care organization. Requires medicaid managed care organizations to contract with and utilize the State PBM. Establishes requirements to procure the State PBM in addition to the requirements under state law governing purchases of health and human services. Establishes requirements and prohibitions for the contract to be used by the DHS when contracting with the state PBM. Requires the DHS to establish a single-preferred drug list to be used by the State PBM. Requires the DHS to consult with the Med-QUEST Healthcare Advisory Committee on the development, implementation, and oversight of the State PBM program. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO RENTAL DISCRIMINATION.

Allows the court to award attorneys' fees to a prevailing party in an action relating to discriminatory practices in a rental transaction based on source of income. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING DISCRIMINATION.

Allows the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission to prosecute discrimination based on source of income in housing cases. Clarifies penalties. Establishes a position. Appropriates funds. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

Provides an emergency appropriation to the Department of Human Services to replace general fund appropriations redirected to provide emergency food assistance during the 2025 federal government shutdown. Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to help Hawaii residents obtain insurance available through the federal marketplace. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE LITERACY EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a statewide Artificial Intelligence Literacy Curricula Plan for students in eleventh and twelfth grades, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year as a condition for graduation. Establishes the Advisory Council for Artificial Intelligence Education. Establishes a three-year Artificial Intelligence Education Grant Pilot Program within the Department of Education. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a statewide Environmental Stewardship Curricula Plan for public schools for certain students. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, requires public schools to offer an environmental stewardship course for certain students. Requires the Department of Education to establish and administer sustainability programs, including recycling and composting programs, to be implemented at public schools. Beginning 7/1/27, prohibits the use or distribution of single-use plastic utensils, trays, straws, and other disposable plastic food service products in public school cafeterias. Beginning 7/1/28, requires each public school to have at least one operational refillable water bottle filling station accessible to students and staff. Requires reports to the Board of Education and the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat